Fantasy Football Player's Edge

September 16, 2008

The key to winning your league revolves around
matchups and the injury status of key players.
The Player's Edge is the best source for timely
and comprehensive information and advice on
who to start, who to sit and why.


Week 3 News: (Daily Updates)

Steve Smith returns to the Panthers this week.


Tuesday: (Recap)

Cowboys 41/Eagles 37- Romo (23), Barber (23),
Owens (20) and Witten (11) performed as expected.
Westbrook (27) was amazing with McNabb (15) and
DeSean Jackson (11) scoring well. Jackson cost his
owners 6 points and McNabb owners 4 by losing a TD
by flipping the ball backwards before crossing the goal
line on a 61 yard pass completion. The Eagles (6) and
Cowboys (5) defenses scored modestly even with the
high score.


Notes from the Edge:

Aaron Rodgers has become an elite commodity.
If you have depth he may draw an elite running
back from Brady owners.

Jon Kitna will lose his job if the Lions continue
to struggle. You might want to offer him for a #3
WR before that happens.

Carson Palmer has another tough matchup this
week vs. the Giants but has a softy against the
Browns in week 4. Consider trading him after
the Cleveland game when you might be able
to extract equal draft day value.

Jason Campbell had a nice game but he plays
in a conference that defends the pass really well.
His performance was enhanced by the "Saints
factor".

Matt Hasselbeck might be had for a nominal
fee. He'll get better in week 5 when his primary
target Deion Branch returns to action. Brady
owners should inquire.

Derek Anderson could struggle again this week
vs. the Ravens. Consider an alternative.

Marc Bulger is enigmatic as he's working in an
offense crafted by purported genius Saunders
and surrounded by explosive weapons in Holt
and Jackson. He's worth stashing for another
week or two while you go in a different direction
this week.

Larry Johnson will get more touches this week
as the Chiefs have to run to set up the pass vs.
the Falcons. If not this week then when Herm?

Michael Bush is an intriguing addition especially
if McFadden is limited by a turf toe.

Darren Sproles is a necessary insurance policy
for Tomlinson owners.

Chris Johnson is a solid #2 running back in all
leagues but he's going to lose short TD's to White.

Ricky Williams can be safely dropped as Ronnie
Brown's workload will increase in future weeks.

School is out regarding Chris Perry's value. While
he's a poor bye week replacement presently he has
faced 2 tough run defenses in the Ravens and the
Titans. Hold on to him a little longer if possible.
He could become decent trade fodder off of a good
effort or 2.

Maurice Jones-Drew owners take heart as he
should break out vs. the Colts this week.

Jonathan Stewart will be the featured back in
Carolina by week 5. Don't get too excited just yet
as he runs into the Vikings this week.

Matt Forte is rapidly becoming a solid #2. He's a
serviceable start every week and a solid bye week
spot play. Great late round selection.

Reggie Bush is a must start #2 as he scores points
in all facets of the game.

Earnest Graham will remain in an equal timeshare
with Warrick Dunn. It might be time to sell high.

Julius Jones is typically fool's gold but his 19 points
are hard to overlook. He might be worth a flier if you
have room on the end of the bench.

Thomas Jones will disappoint often and should only
be used when he's facing a soft run defense. San
Diego allowing 6.0 ypc fits that description currently.

Laurence Maroney might be the biggest bust in the
draft for the second year in a row. He has little trade
value and has no place in your starting lineup even
when he's healthy. Lamont Jordan could reprise the
Corey Dillon role with the Patriots especially with
Cassel at the helm. Keep a close eye on this one.

Marvin Harrison will be targeted this week as the
Jaguars will focus on Reggie Wayne and Anthony
Gonzalez.

Isaac Bruce will be utilized in a Martz offense and
has another great matchup vs. the Lions. Berrian
owners may want to spot Ike this week.

DeSean Jackson proved that he's the real deal vs.
a very good Cowboys secondary. He's a must start
#3 every week.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh owners may be regretting
their early selection of the WR. See if you can get him
cheap before he breaks out.

Chad Johnson's value is nil and could be traded on
name recognition and past value. Offer him around
to see which owners still like him and you can then
pull him back and offer Johnson for better value
should he have a nice game this week.

Joey Galloway is going to be inconsistent all season.
It might be better to move on.

Eddie Royal's performances are going to be spotty
due to Marshall's return but the Broncos look like
an aerial juggernaut. He'll be a solid bye week spot
play beginning in week 4.

Vincent Jackson has the tools to be a solid #3 and
should be stashed as a bye week replacement.

Tony Scheffler will have open looks every week as
teams fret over the Broncos wideouts and slot play.

John Carlson can be used weekly and looks like this
year's Owen Daniels.

Robert Royal and Dante Rosario are classic cases
of why you shouldn't chase 3nd tier TE's after big
games.

Jeremy Shockey may struggle yet again this week
against Denver's athletic linebackers. Don't panic as
he's simply had poor matchups.

Josh Brown can still kick as evidenced by a pair of 54
yard field goals last week. If the Rams can develop a
modicum of offense Brown will prove to be a reliable
long range kicker.


Quick Picks: (free agents to acquire)
D. Sproles
M. Bush
J. Jones
B. Jackson
L. Jordan
I, Bruce.
T. Scheffler

Castaways: (waiver candidates)
Ri. Williams
T. Ginn
K. Boss
Da. Jackson
Ja. Walker
J. Galloway

Hard Knocks: (injury notes)
R. Grant - hamstring
L. Tomlinson- toe
A. Gates- hip/toe
D. McFadden- toe
D. Hester- ribs
J. Galloway- foot
D. Huard- head
S. Rice- hamstring

Week 2 -Report Card: (start/sit)

1. QB's: Overall Grade- A

The Standard: 300 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int = 20 points

Favorable: Grade/Actual Points vs. Standard

Kurt Warner- A+/26 points

Philip Rivers- A+/28

Trent Edwards- C/11

E. Manning- A/22

A. Rodgers- A+/25

J. Kitna- B/16


Unfavorable: (F represents the best sit)

Carson Palmer- F/3

Derek Anderson- F/4

Jake Delhomme- F/4

D. Garrard- D/8

M. Schaub- ppd.


2. RB's: Overall Grade- B-

The Standard: 110 yards rush, 30 yards rec, 1 TD = 20 pts

Favorable: (grades based on a #2 RB)

Willie Parker- B-/10

Chris Johnson- B-/11

Reggie Bush- B/14

Larry Johnson- F/2

Ray Rice- ppd.


Unfavorable: (F represents the best sit)

Chris Perry- B-/12

Matt Forte- B-/11

D'Angelo Williams- F/3

Laurence Maroney- F/1

Ahman Green- ppd.


3. WR's: Overall Grade- C+

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (grades based on a #3 WR)

Lee Evans- C+/7

Joey Galloway- F/1

Vincent Jackson- C+/7

Donald Driver- B+/11

Marvin Harrison- F/1


Unfavorable: (F represents the best sit)

Chad Ocho Cinco- F/3

Roddy White- C/5

Laveranues Coles- C+/7

D.J. Hackett- F/2

Kevin Walter- ppd.


4. TE's: Overall Grade- D

The Standard- 40 yards, .3 TD = 6 points

Favorable:

Heath Miller- C/3

Greg Olsen- F/0

Zach Miller- D/2

Robert Royal- F/0

David Lee- D/2


Unfavorable:

Jeremy Shockey- F/0

L. J. Smith- F/1

Randy McMichael- D/2

Owen Daniels- ppd.


5. K's: Overall Grade- C

The Standard- 2 FG's, 1/40+, 3 Pat's = 10 points

Favorable:

Neil Rackers- B/8

Jeff Reed- C/5

Mason Crosby- A/12

Matt Stover- ppd.


Unfavorable:

Shayne Graham- F/1

John Kasay- B+/9

Josh Brown- A/11

Kris Brown- ppd.


6. DEF's: Overall Grade: A

The Standard- 13 points allowed, 3 turnovers, 2 sacks = 12 pts

Favorable:

Tennessee- A+/17

Seattle- B/10

Chicago- A/14

Tampa Bay- A/12

Arizona- C/6


Unfavorable:

Philadelphia- C/6

Dallas- C/5

Denver- F/-1

Washington- B/8


8. Match Play: (tracks the weekly activity of a team
in a public league.)

Week 2:

PE (Player's Edge)--------OP (Weekly Opponent)

QB: D.McNabb-----15/J. Cutler-----16
RB: C. Portis-------15/J. Addai-----11
RB: L. Johnson----15/W. Parker----15
WR:T. Holt--------10/L. Coles-------8
WR:M. Harrison----9/L. Fitzgerald--12
WR:B. Marshall---10/S. Holmes-----9
TE: Z. Miller--------3/L. J. Smith-----5
K: J. Reed----------9/M. Crosby------9
DEF: Seattle------12/Baltimore-----10

Projected Score:--PE 98//OP 95

RES:P. Rivers---------S. Young
RES:E. James---------M. Colston
RES:R. Williams-------T. Jones
RES:C. Perry----------Jacksonville
RES:De. Jackson------K. Warner
RES:J. Walker---------B. Favre

Week 2 Final Score: L 101-93

PE projected a win for OP by 1.


Final Thoughts:

PE has decided to play a team that drafted 10th in a 10 team
format. This league will be followed throughout the entire 2008
fantasy campaign. The challenge will be to stay competitive vs.
teams with much better rosters.

The Player's Edge participates in many leagues but elected
to follow a team in a Public League to better approximate what
might be faced by a wide majority of players that use the Edge
daily. The team plays in a standard scoring format of 25 yards
per point/4 points per TD/ -1 Int for QB's and 10 yards/6 for
TD/-2 fumbles for RB/WR/TE. Kickers, 3/4/5 points for 1-30,
40, 50+ yard field goals respectively. Defenses, 10 for shutout
to 0 for 34+ points allowed and 2 points for fumbles, interception
a 1 point per sack. 6 points for defensive scores.

All Done!

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